It’s no secret that Devin Booker is lethal on the court. The four-time All-Star averaged 27.1 points per game this season.
When he’s away from the hardwood, Booker loves to showcase his skills on the sticks. Before he even became an NBA player, he was a huge fan of Call of Duty. To this day, his passion for the game is second to none.
On Friday, it was officially announced that Booker has an operator skin for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.
We caught up with Devin Booker to talk about the “DBook” bundle for Call of Duty, the future of Kentucky’s basketball program and much more.
The Spun: When Kevin Durant became a playable character in Call of Duty, you didn’t shy away from saying you wish you could do that. Well, now it’s a reality. What was your initial reaction to the news?
Devin Booker: To be completely honest, this has been a dream of mine since my rookie year since I did my scans for NBA 2K. Before I was even in NBA 2K, I was thinking, ‘I wish they could put the same character in Call of Duty.’ That was before Call of Duty was even putting operators in the game. I didn’t know if this was going to happen, but it was always a dream of mine. The process from then until now has been a great journey. Call of Duty has been a big part of my life, so this is definitely exciting.
The Spun: How about the customization aspect of this. You got Haven included, a “D Book was here” sticker. What was it like being part of the creative team on this one?
DB: Right when we got the OK to do this, my mind started turning. It was kind of the same process as getting my signature shoe. How can I make this something that’s true to me. Being a fan of Call of Duty for so long, I wanted to go with all-black. I then thought of a tailored suit for a secret spy type of look.
The Spun: Before I ask you about basketball, I got to know, what’s your favorite Call of Duty game of all-time?
DB: Not a lot of people will agree with this, but World at War was mine and my brother’s favorite. It was a simple game, not many perks or attachments. It was a lot about skill. The most influential Call of Duty would be Modern Warfare II.
The Spun: Were you surprised John Calipari left Kentucky?
DB: 100 percent. I never thought I’d see the day. Some people asked me during the season as if they knew it was coming, but I just kept thinking that I couldn’t see him leaving Lexington. It’s strange, man. It’s something that I didn’t expect, but I hope it’s a great situation for him and his family. I saw Arkansas posted a picture of him on campus. It’s a different dynamic seeing him in red, but I wish the best for him.
The Spun: What are your thoughts on Kentucky hiring Mark Pope?
DB: I think that’s a great situation. He’s someone who is familiar with Lexington and Big Blue Nation. I don’t know much abut Mark, but maybe I’ll reach out to him. I want to stay connected to the program. He seems like the right guy for the job, so fans should give him a chance. He has big shoes to fill, but maybe he’ll bring new energy to the program.
The Spun: Do you feel like there’s a ton of pressure on Team USA to win gold at the Olympics?
DB: I think that pressure is always there for the United States. It’s been like that from the beginning. We can’t take it lightly. It’s not like the old days where you’re guaranteed blowouts, but we have a good team. We want to win, we want to win comfortably, and represent the United States to the best of our ability. The only way to do that is win the gold medal.
The Spun: What are your thoughts on the play-in tournament? How much does it change the way team’s approach the final stretch of the regular season?
DB: It changes so much. I think it’s one of the best ideas the NBA has ever had. There’s a lot more pressure in the last 15 games. They feel like playoff games because you’re trying to avoid the play-in tournament. It shows how important every game is throughout the season. It’s a great addition to the league.
The Spun: I know you and Durant are teammates so you may be nice about this, but who’s the better Call of Duty player?
DB: I’ll let him answer that, but I think I’m the best Call of Duty player ever. That is a fact.
***
You can read more of our interviews with athletes and media stars here.